It’s candidate filing week. On Monday, the first day of filing, 50 candidates had filed to run for positions on city councils, school boards, fire district commissions, park district commissions, port commissions and utility district boards across Kitsap County.

Port Orchard voters will elect a mayor and four city council members. South Kitsap voters will elect three school-board members, two fire-district commissioners and a West Sound Utility District commissioner. Manchester and Waterman residents will each elect a port commissioner. Residents of Manchester, Rocky Point and Sunnyslope will each elect a water district commissioner.

Turn to the Port Orchard Independent’s print and online editions for informative coverage of candidates in the Aug. 4 primary and the Nov. 3 general election. In addition to stories about the candidates and issues, we will publish Q&As with the candidates and will cover forums planned in the region. We also will publish information in advance of forums and other events so you know when you can participate and get to know the candidates.

Here’s our editorial endorsement process: The Independent will endorse candidates in the Nov. 3 general election. The endorsement will be made based on information gathered in the course of reporting on the candidates, coverage of candidate forums, and endorsement interviews.

The endorsement board — comprising editors, the publisher and community advisory board members — will interview candidates. Both candidates for an office will be interviewed together, using rules used by the League of Women Voters.

Letters to the editor: Election-related letters to the editor will be published if they conform to rules regarding other letters to the editor (no more than 350 words, signed by the writer, with address and telephone number for verification purposes).

Anonymous letters and form letters will not be published. Letters deemed by the editor to be redundant may not be published in order to allow for as many letters as possible.

Get to know the candidates. Your vote on Nov. 3 will empower election winners to make level-of-service and spending decisions on your behalf in city hall, school district offices, fire district headquarters, and park, port and utility district offices. Make sure your vote is an informed one.

— What are your thoughts about the upcoming elections? Write Port Orchard Independent, 2465 Bethel Road, Suite 102, Port Orchard, WA 98366, or email rsmith@portorchardindependent.com.